The Junior School Symposium

The Junior School Symposium is an established annual event in the curriculum – a central tenet of free and memorable learning. Starting in 2015, we team up with James Allen’s Girls’ Junior School and Dulwich Wood Primary School, with children working together on different workshops, issues and activities. To date, themes have included ‘Movement’, ‘Pattern and Chaos’, ‘Time’, ‘Conflict and Resolution’, ‘Our World’, ‘Colour, Empathy, Connections and Communication and our theme for 2025 was ‘Tradition and Innovation’.

Teachers from the Junior and Senior Schools and outside providers ensure a range of challenging, thought-provoking sessions for all. If any pupil feels apprehensive about working with new children, their fears are quickly dispelled; discussions become lively as confidence builds. In all the varied sessions, it is lovely to see groups of girls and boys working constructively together: focused, engaged and thoughtful. By the end of the day, every child has experienced a range of challenges to delve deeply into; discovering the theme through thinking, exploring, problem-solving, discussing, debating, analysing, evaluating and creating.

A rapidly growing aspect of the day is strengthening links with other schools in the Dulwich College community around the world. Dulwich College Singapore host a Symposium too. Short films created by talented crews in each school were then circulated so the children could connect with their peers around the world. This growing bond around such an exciting initiative makes it a truly global event.

Mikhail Devitt
Deputy Head Academic, Junior School